Freelance Contract Embedded Software Engineer Jobs

Job Title: Principal Embedded Software Engineer

Job Description

We are seeking a Principal Embedded Software Engineer to support the development of next-generation flight control, hybrid propulsion, and aircraft electrification systems for both commercial and military aerospace applications. The focus will be on low-level embedded software development, working closely with hardware to create and enable foundational software capabilities that support safety-critical avionics and flight control platforms. This position emphasizes platform software development, which includes processor bring-up, board support packages (BSPs), bootloaders, multicore architectures, and RTOS integration.

Responsibilities

• Design, develop, and integrate low-level embedded software for aerospace control systems.
• Develop bare-metal software, bootloaders, Board Support Packages (BSPs), and processor initialization routines.
• Perform processor bring-up and hardware enablement activities for multicore ARM-based System-on-Chip (SoC) platforms.
• Configure, enable, and optimize SoC capabilities for real-time and safety-critical applications.
• Architect and implement Symmetric Multi-Processing (SMP) and Multi-Core Processor (MCP) software frameworks.
• Develop and execute benchmarking methodologies for SoC performance evaluation.
• Analyze and mitigate multicore interference risks to ensure deterministic system behavior.
• Integrate and optimize Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS) for flight control and aerospace applications.
• Design and implement communications interfaces and protocols including TSN, PCIe, AFDX, and related technologies.
• Perform advanced timing and performance analyses including Worst Case Execution Time (WCET) assessments.
• Support FPGA and ASIC integration efforts, including hardware/software interface development and timing analysis.
• Develop software test environments and verification methodologies for safety-critical systems.
• Generate technical documentation, performance assessments, and fit-for-purpose evaluations for aerospace platforms.
• Collaborate with systems, hardware, FPGA, and controls engineering teams throughout the product lifecycle.

Essential Skills

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, or a related technical discipline.
• Significant experience developing low-level embedded software in C/C++.
• Experience with bare-metal embedded development.
• Experience developing and maintaining bootloaders, BSPs, device drivers, or processor initialization software.
• Experience working with Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS).
• Experience with multicore processors, embedded architectures, or ARM-based systems.
• Strong understanding of hardware/software interactions, memory architectures, interrupts, and processor-level debugging.
• Experience performing software integration and troubleshooting in embedded environments.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience with NXP S32 family processors, including S32G2.
• Experience with NXP Layerscape devices.
• Knowledge of DO-178C software development and certification processes.
• Experience supporting Level A safety-critical software development efforts.
• Knowledge of multicore processing architectures and interference mitigation techniques.
• Experience with Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), PCIe, AFDX, or other deterministic communication protocols.
• Experience with ARM Development Studio (ARM DS IDE) and debugging tools.
• Python scripting and test automation experience.
• Experience performing WCET, Data Coupling and Control Coupling (DCCC), and related analyses.
• Exposure to FPGA and ASIC interface development.

Work Environment

This role involves working in a collaborative and dynamic environment focused on developing cutting-edge aerospace technologies. The position requires interfacing with various engineering teams, including systems, hardware, FPGA, and controls engineering, throughout the product lifecycle. The role may involve working with advanced tools and technologies related to embedded systems and aerospace application

This is a Contract position based out of Endicott, NY.

The pay range for this position is $60.00 - $78.73/hr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Endicott,NY.

This position is anticipated to close on Sep 15, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications withoutregard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability,sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protectedby law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification oradjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability,please email actalentaccommodation@actalentservices.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in thecity and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicantswith arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as acondition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this lawshall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process,including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applicationsand qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, youacknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.